VE Day 80: Surbiton care home veterans share memories of the end of war in Europe
WWII veterans at Royal Star & Garter care homes have been remembering Victory in Europe (VE) Day, 80 years ago.
They recalled celebrations and festivities which took place on 8 May 1945, following Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender to Allied forces in WWII, and the end of fighting in Europe.
Some also paid tribute to sacrifices made by those who served during the war and reflected on the difficulties which continued after VE Day.
Royal Star & Garter provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia, from Homes in Solihull, Surbiton, High Wycombe, and now in Worthing, having recently merged with the military charity Care for Veterans.
The charity also has services reaching into the community, including Day Care, Lunch Club and a free-to-use Telephone Friendship Service.
Those sharing memories of the momentous day live at Royal Star & Garter's Homes or use its other services.
Among those remembering VE Day was Amy, who celebrated her 100th birthday earlier this year, and was in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) during WWII.
The veteran, who lives at the charity's Surbiton Home, signed up as a 17-year-old in 1942, and was a barrage balloon operator, before becoming a plotter at a station near Hastings.
She was there on D-Day in 1944, and again for VE Day the following year.
She said: "I was stationed in Hastings, and we went on a victory parade. I remember it distinctly; it was jolly good.
"But I thought about the people that had lost so much. I was there when we sent people across to Normandy [for the D-Day landings], so of course we thought about all the people who were no longer with us."
Bob was nearly 10 and at school in Tolworth on VE Day.
Now a resident at the Surbiton Home, he said: "I was going to school, and people were putting up flags. An old man said to me 'it's all finished now; you can have celebrations tomorrow'.
"They were putting up bunting, US flags, and Union Jacks all down the road. I put some flags around my aunt's oak tree.
"I remember the VE Day parades; they were memories I will never forget. We had special lunches at school.
"We were allowed to dress up, there were parties in the playground. It was unforgettable."
For RAF veteran Michael, who also lives at Royal Star & Garter in Surbiton, VE Day not only brought peace in Europe, but his father back from war.
Michael was aged seven at the time and explained: "We were living near Bury St Edmunds and went there because there were parties going on all over the place.
"You could see these trails in the sky, all these planes buzzing about.
"Everyone seemed to be happy, and everyone seemed to know everyone else.
"There was much shaking of hands and hugs and laughter and there seemed to be quite a lot of things to eat − up to then there wasn't much!"
A short while after, his father, who had been serving in the RAF, returned home.
Michael continued: "He had been building runways on the Shetland Islands for some time.
"We saw him very occasionally… then one day he came back with a funny suit on. It was a demob suit, it didn't seem to fit him, but we were glad that he was back."
Mary, another Surbiton resident, said while VE Day brought peace in Europe, hardships would continue for a long time to come: "There was great jubilation," she said, "but rationing and shortages lasted for several years after that.
"But at least we could all sleep safely in our beds and our menfolk were home from fighting in the war."
Royal Star & Garter is welcoming new residents into its Homes.
You can find out more information on this, the other services it offers to the veteran community, and how to work for the charity here.
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